Greek Catholic Church leader invites Pope Leo XIV to visit Ukraine
His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Galicia, said he invited the pope to visit Ukraine and handed him a list of Ukrainian prisoners currently held by Russia.
Under Pope Francis, the Vatican had actively supported prisoner exchanges and advocated for the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russian-occupied regions.
The Vatican did not issue a formal statement following the meeting, which marked one of the earliest such engagements for the new pope since his election on 8 May.
Since his appointment, Pope Leo XIV has repeatedly voiced his solidarity with Ukraine. During his first Sunday Angelus blessing and again this week while addressing pilgrims from Eastern Rite churches, he renewed his appeal for an end to the conflict.
'I carry in my heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people,' the pontiff said on Sunday. 'Let everything possible be done to achieve genuine, just and lasting peace as soon as possible. May all the prisoners be freed, and may the children return to their families.'
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, said on Thursday that it remained 'premature' to consider a papal visit to Kyiv, despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy raising the possibility in his first phone call with the pope earlier this week.
While the Vatican traditionally maintains diplomatic neutrality, Pope Leo XIV has pledged to make 'every effort' to foster dialogue to end wars.
'The Holy See is always ready to help bring enemies together, face to face, to talk to one another, so that peoples everywhere may once more find hope and recover the dignity they deserve, the dignity of peace,' he said on Wednesday.
Pope Leo XIV is set to be officially appointed during a Mass at the Vatican on Sunday, with Zelenskyy and US Vice President JD Vance expected to attend.
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